First, I did not expect this type of reaction to this story. I'm shocked and anxious, but happy to be writing this.
To the guest that literally reviewed my story five minutes after I posted it with the comment I don't love Harry Potter because of the bashing, I hope you find happiness because it obviously sounds like you're angry with the world. Take a deep breath and chill.
chemicalscum: I'm glad! Yes the big baddie is Voldemort. The backstory comes out fairly soon. Thank you for reading and reviewing!
LovesMe419: Thank you for reading and reviewing!
nick7745: The pressure is definitely there and I hope I don't let you down. She will be "kind" to her family, but to those outside of the family, it won't be the 'sweet' kind. It's the "I'm letting you live because I have use of you" type kindness. Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Love you all! Mistakes are mine.
D19
Harry and Ron stopped at the last compartment on the hall. They were searching for Hermione. One minute, they're watching her put her trunk away. The next, they're walking up and down the train looking for her. Harry was worried. Ron was just…there.
"She went to the restroom, Harry. She's fine," Ron complained.
"That was an hour ago, Ron."
"I still say we go back to our compartment and wait for her there."
Harry knocked politely on the window. "This is the last one. We'll ask if they've seen her and if not," he paused and shook his head, "Let's just ask, alright?"
There was shuffling inside. Harry waited patiently while Ron grew agitated. He banged on the door a few seconds later.
"Open up! We can hear you in there," he huffed.
"Ron," Harry hissed.
The lock clicked open and the door slid to the side, revealing none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Oh look, Potter and the Weasel. How nice of you to interrupt the only peace I have away from you."
"Trust me, I don't want to be here either," Ron muttered.
"Then why are you here?"
Harry peeked over Draco's shoulder. There was a girl wrapped in a cloak seemingly asleep in the corner. Her face was hidden, and the only thing on display were reddish-brown curls. The door started to close, but Harry stopped it with his foot.
"Wait! Have you seen Hermione? She went to the restroom an hour ago and she hasn't come back," Harry said quickly.
"The mudblood is probably hiding from you," Draco snorted. "Can't say I blame her."
"Don't call her that!" Harry said.
"Or what? Going to hex me?" Draco cocked his head. "Going to kill me like you did poor Cedric?" he added in a whisper.
Harry whipped out his wand. Ron followed suit. The two practically trembled as they aimed their wands at Draco, yet the blond kept his wand in his holster. Draco waved his finger in front of Harry's face as if scolding a child and said, "Tsk. Tsk. That impulsivity of yours is going to get you killed one day."
"The only person who'll be dying is your precious Dark Lord," Harry growled.
"We'll see."
The standoff lasted another minute before Harry and Ron dropped their wands. Ron tugged on Harry's arm. "I told you she wasn't back here," he said. "No way she'd be hanging out with scum like him."
"I wouldn't say that," Draco said. "She hangs out with you idiots all the time."
Draco snickered as he slammed the door in Harry and Ron's face. He shut the curtains and Harry was tempted to blast the door back open. The two made their way back to their compartment. They made it halfway before Ron looked over his shoulder.
"Oy, who was that girl in the corner?" he whispered.
"I don't know. I've never seen her before."
"Well, she can't be any good if she's hanging around with the likes of Malfoy," Ron spat.
"Especially alone."
"We should keep an eye out for her once we reach the station, see who she goes home with," Ron said.
"Yeah, I-
The two stopped talking when Luna approached them, a soft smile on her face.
"Hello Harry, Ron," she said dreamily. "Have you all seen my shoes?"
Harry and Ron looked down. Sure enough, she was barefoot. She wiggled her toes and Harry coughed uncomfortably as he looked back at her.
"Uh, no, Luna. I'm sorry. I'll help you look for them after I find Hermione, okay?" Harry said.
"Hermione isn't missing, silly. She's exactly where she's supposed to be."
"See? Even Loony knows we shouldn't be worried about her," Ron said.
"That's not what I said at all," Luna giggled.
Ron shot her a look before he scowled and pushed past the girl, muttering about weirdos and chocolate frogs. Harry, though he seemed mildly apologetic, said nothing as he went around her as well. The dreamy look faded from Luna's eyes and her wand fell into her hand. Looking over her shoulder, Luna hit Ron and Harry with an obliviate. The two stopped in the middle of the corridor, eyes glazed over, and she pocketed her wand. She continued down the hall. Sooner or later, someone would find them.
Maybe.
Luna entered the compartment and no sooner than the door closed, her glamour melted away from her skin. The former blonde, now with white hair, one gold eye, and one green eye, sat in Draco's lap and kissed him on the cheek.
"Where are you shoes, Luna love?" Draco asked.
"Chang stole them while I was sleeping. Honestly, one would think they would get tired of the same game. But no one said Ravenclaws were smart."
"Right," he said dryly. "No one would ever say that."
Luna smiled and her eyes twinkled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You will never guess what happened on my way here," she said.
"Other than someone stealing your shoes? Which I hope you find before we get off the train. You know how mother gets."
Luna waved him off. "I will be fine. But no, I ran into a couple of young men in the hallway. They seemed quite upset," she said.
"Is that so?"
"They were quite worried about finding someone named Hermione."
Draco shook his head. "That sounds serious. Did you lend them a helping hand?" he asked.
"I did, my dearest Dragon. I alleviated their stressful thoughts and went about my way."
"You truly have a heart for the people."
Luna sniffed and wiped away an invisible tear. "I only wish I could have done more. They seemed so worried about her," she sighed. "I do hope this Hermione character is alright. There are dangerous people on this train."
A groan sounded from the girl in the corner. The cloak fell, revealing an obviously annoyed Hermione, though the bright red eyes glaring at Luna were a different look.
"Speaking of dangerous people," Luna teased.
"The fact that you are this vexing so early into our vacation tells me I should leave you to your devices for the summer."
"You wouldn't last a day," Luna snorted.
"Draco, do control your witch before she becomes my footstool," Hermione said, though there was no malice behind it.
Luna mimed zipping her lips. Hermione groaned again and waved her hand over her face. Her curls thickened and turned back into their dull shade of brown. Her eyes darkened and her skin took on a slight tan. She stood up from the bench and tugged uncomfortably at the jeans she wore.
"I cannot wait until we get home. I am sick of these."
"I think you look cute."
"You are dancing on thin ice, Selene," Hermione murmured, using Luna's code name to show her seriousness. There was a cracking sound as Hermione stretched her back.
"I mean no harm, my Lady," Luna conceded.
"This I know, which is why you are still breathing."
"And I am forever grateful."
Draco rubbed circles on Luna's hip as he looked at Hermione. "We are still a couple of hours away from home. Are you sure you can last that long?" he asked.
Hermione tapped the side of her head. "I have someone to keep me company," she said.
"Right, right. How is she doing?"
"As psychotic as ever," Hermione said.
"You're one to talk," Draco scoffed.
Hermione shrugged. "Crazy is as crazy does. And we do each other a lot," she said.
"Have I told you lately that I hate you?" Draco sighed.
"Not since this morning."
Hermione winked before she took a deep breath. She hunched her shoulders slightly and shuffled out of the compartment, looking up and down the hall before she exited.
On the platform, Hermione only had seconds before she and the others was swarmed by the Order. Ginny and Ron were fused over by Molly and Arthur. When they turned on Harry, the boy preened under their attention. Hermione's heart ached at the display. But as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared and was replaced with anger and resentment. Hermione had a mother, a woman who would've fussed over her the moment she got off the train and sent her ridiculous gifts during the year, but the Order killed her. She also had a father who was forced into hiding and labeled a monster when all he wanted was a world where magical beings took their existence seriously instead of trying to merge with the non-magical world. There was a reason the two were kept apart, and there's no reason to try and put them together.
Fucking idiots.
The Order stole the only thing Hermione loved most in the world, and it nearly destroyed the second. No amount of pining and complaining would bring her mother back or change what happened to her father.
"Hermione dear, you look well," Molly said, almost as an afterthought.
The Order, minus Tonks, seem to finally realize Hermione was standing there. They greeted her with various 'hellos' and awkward smiles. She forced herself to look friendly as she said, "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. You look well also."
Molly smiled. And just like that, it was over. The matron went back to Harry and the Order went back to pretending she didn't exist. Hermione growled under her breath.
Breathe, my love. You will have your revenge soon enough.
Hermione took a deep breath and forced away those emotions.
Thank you, Bella.
She felt something warm in the back of her mind and smiled. Oh, the day her lover returns will be the day she would know true happiness.
Such a romantic.
Hermione heard the teasing lilt to Bella's voice and mentally rolled her eyes. A hand brushed against hers, and she looked over at Tonks. The metamorphmagus jerked her head towards the exit and Hermione nodded, relieved to get away from the Order and their hypocrisy. Neither one bothered to alert the group they were leaving as they probably wouldn't notice they were gone.
"I was told to tell you that your father called a family dinner tonight."
"Of course he did," Hermione snorted. "He rediscovers how to walk and suddenly wants to have the family over for dinner. He is such a Drama Queen."
"I've always wondered where you got it from," Tonks joked.
"Piss off."
Tonks walked her through the exit and handed her a scarf.
"It activates the moment you say, 'Ready,' got it?"
Hermione nodded. Tonks bid her goodbye and went back to the Platform with the others. Hermione left the station and ducked into a back alley. After making sure she was alone, she activated the portkey.